German liaison and support group

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The tenders Mosel (front) and Main , here in Kiel, formed the core of the MLBE in the first two contingents
Frigates like the Karlsruhe , here during Operation Enduring Freedom, are regularly supported by the DVUG

The German Liaison and Support Group Djibouti (DEU VbdgUstgGrp DJI, DVUG) in Djibouti is a logistical facility of the Bundeswehr to support the naval units operating in the Horn of Africa .

Marine logistics base in the area of ​​operation

After the attacks of September 11, 2001 , the German Bundestag decided on November 16, 2001 that the Bundeswehr should take part in Operation Enduring Freedom . The German forces provided for this purpose included a naval contingent that was deployed in the Horn of Africa. A naval logistics base in the operational area (MLBE) was set up in Djibouti to support him.

The establishment of the MLBE began on January 27, 2002 with the arrival of the Main tender , which carried the most important logistical facilities on board. The MLBE staff was housed in a hotel. The task was the logistical and the onshore medical supply of the German units deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom in the region. These were initially combined in Task Group 500.01, which initially consisted of twelve ships, various aircraft and around 1,300 soldiers. The MLBE subordinate to the commander of this association (CTG 500.01) and consisted initially of about 250 soldiers from all branches of the armed forces, including a military police component .

Tenders of the Elbe class were used in the MLBE until summer 2003, after which the logistical support was relocated to the local French naval base . In parallel with the reduction in the contingent, the number of personnel was gradually reduced to 50 and in 2006 to 20 members of the armed forces. Various works were awarded to civil contractors.

Liaison and support group

As a result of the reduction, the MLBE was renamed the German Liaison and Support Group (DVUG) on July 1, 2007. The contingent to be supported now mostly consists of a frigate , a task force supply or a naval aviation command with a reconnaissance aircraft. The DVUG is subordinate to the German contingent leader in the area of ​​operation, who in turn is led by the command and control of the Bundeswehr in Potsdam .

On December 19, 2008, the German Bundestag decided that the Bundeswehr should take part in Operation Atalanta to combat piracy off the Somali coast . Thus, the DVUG received an additional support mandate, which remained when the German participation in Operation Enduring Freedom ended in summer 2010. Due to the demands, the DVUG grew again over time to 30 members, most of whom are provided by the Navy. In addition, one element of four police officers belongs to the DVUG, whose main tasks are in connection with the fight against piracy.

tasks

Maritime patrol aircraft of the type P-3C Orion be used Djibouti from the sea surveillance

The main tasks of the DVUG are:

  • Support for German warships entering Djibouti ,
  • Support for naval aviation forces temporarily stationed in Djibouti,
  • Handling of personnel transports to and from Germany,
  • Arrest and forwarding of pirates captured by German ships.

literature

  • Marco Huude. Jubilee in the Horn of Africa . In: Marineforum 10-2012, p. 26 ff.